The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says it has concluded a clause-by-clause realignment of its regulations and guidelines to ensure they are not only legally airtight but operationally in sync with the new Electoral Act ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan gave the hint on Tuesday in Abuja at the consultative meeting with leaders of political parties on the review of INEC regulations and guidelines for political parties.
Amupitan recalled that earlier this month, the Commission commenced a rigorous technical retreat to review and reconstruct the regulations and guidelines for political parties 2022.
He noted that they met not merely as regulators and political actors, but as joint custodians of Nigeria’s democratic future.
He explained that the regulations have been formulated under the powers granted to INEC by our Constitution and the Electoral Act.
Amupitan stated: “They represent a significant review of the Regulations made in 2022, now meticulously aligned with the recently enacted Electoral Act of 2026. We cannot navigate a 2027 horizon using a 2022 map.
“In particular, mention must be made of Section 93(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which states that election expenses incurred by a political party for the management or the conduct of an election shall be determined by the Commission in consultation with the political parties.
“Consequently, we would like the political parties to take special note of Clause 40(4) & (5) of the draft Regulation dealing with election expenses of political parties for the management of party primaries and for the conduct of elections.
“Therefore, the Commission has concluded a clause-by-clause realignment of our Regulations and Guidelines to ensure they are not only legally airtight but operationally in sync with the new Act.
“It is our hope that these updated guidelines will foster a more transparent, fair, and equitable electoral landscape for all stakeholders involved.”
Amupitan said with the Presidential and National Assembly elections fixed for January 16, 2027 and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections fixed for 6th February 2027, the commission is operating in a compressed timetable as a result of the reduction in the various timelines in the Electoral Act, 2026, “which demands what I call surgical precision.”
He assured that the review has been guided by empirical data, specifically findings from the Political Party Performance Index (PPPI).